Suspicious bag outside Gogebic Taconite office

Northwestern Wisconsin police say a suspicious backpack found near a company proposing to build iron ore mine did not contain explosives.

Gogebic Taconite president Bill Williams says an employee called him around 11 a.m. Saturday to find out if he had left a backpack outside their Hurley office. He told the employee he did not.

According to a Hurley police department statement, the area was cordoned off and a bomb squad arrived at about 2:45 p.m. They found the bag didn't have a bomb and the area was opened again around 4 p.m.

A message left for Chief Dan Erspamer was not immediately returned Saturday night.

The proposed mine is near the Bad River Chippewa's reservation. The tribe and conservationists are against it, fearing it would pollute the region.

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